AUBURN – A high school senior has been volunteering his time to a nursing home to contribute to the betterment of his community. Brian Robinson, a student at St. Dominic Regional High School, has been volunteering at Clover Health Care for four weeks as part of his Senior Involvement Program.

The program provides students an opportunity to reach deeper into the community and inspire responsibility to help neighbor. Robinson volunteered for the Activities Department at Clover, transporting residents to activities, working with residents on crossword puzzles, setting up portable DVD players at bedsides, playing toss with balloons and visiting residents with the Clover dogs, Clover and Shamrock.

Each day there were activities – for instance, a historian speaking on the life of Mark Twain, having a ride to lunch, church services of different denominations and music entertainment. On May 5 the residents celebrated Cinco de Mayo with breakfast omelets and home fries made to order.

Robinson got the opportunity to converse with residents. Sometimes working on an individual basis, he heard the life stories of residents.

Volunteering his time allowed Robinson to be part of the real world and see life beyond high school. The activity coordinators, under the direction of Jim Parker, showed him creative ways to communicate and interact with the residents.

On Robinson’s last day as a volunteer, Parker and his staff surprised him with a farewell gift and hugs of gratitude.


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